The Word on the Street

Following on from 'Spying Out the Land' on Friday, getting to see the environment in which the street kids live, today the team experienced the frontline ministry of reaching these people for Christ. It was a challenging, heartbreaking, and inspiring time. Heather and Maggie share their reflections on a crucial day for the team.

Andrew Agnew arrived at the seminary at 10am to give us some information about the street children's ministry, and go through the "street rules". We then divided into two teams before heading to the drop-in centre.

The first team were brought to a group of around 10 street children on the edge of an affluent part of the city. As Andrew parked the car they came over to us, obviously happy to see the team. I was surprised by their openness and warm welcome. They greeted us all with a hand-shake and were interested in learning all our names.

Initially we felt very inadequate because of the language barrier and a bit uncomfortable when they crowded around us. This feeling quickly disappeared as we started to play football with them. After the games John Humphries gave his testimony.

It was very humbling to witness how open the street children were to God's Word. They asked some challenging questions. Despite many of them openly taking drugs, there was a real desire from three specific children to learn more about God. During this time there was a definite sense of the Lord's presence and peace enabling us to share His Word.

The second team met Alex and Paty at the drop-in centre and, while the men went to buy some food for the children, the girls sorted some bags of clothing, including the football shirts from home. We then walked the short distance to the group of children we were to visit. A game of football started between the Mexicans and the Armagh team. Two of the kids joined in and some of us got more enthusiastic as the game went on! The kids attempted to play though one continued to use solvents as we played. It was very obvious that this lad's motor skills were badly affected by drug abuse.

When the game finished we followed Alex as he called the kids to gather under a tree. Andrew Black gave his testimony while Christian MacKinnon (a missionary) translated. We were amazed as they listened really intently and when Andrew mentioned John ch 3 v 16 one of the kids quoted the whole verse. They all really knew the Gospel. Alex spoke to them from God's Word and again they listened. Alex led a time of praise and they all sang along and seemed to enjoy it.

We had brought some food for the kids and helped Paty serve it out. They were all willing to share with each other and did enjoy the food. Today was a real eye-opener to how these kids survive on the streets.